Warrant issued for CannaHelp owner

January 04, 2007

Riverside County has issued a warrant for the arrest of Stacy Hochanadel, the owner of the CannaHelp medical marijuana dispensary in Palm Desert.
Hochanadel, who has not seen the warrant, said he will give himself up in Indio on Monday. But the dispensary located at 73-350 El Paseo will remain open, he said today, staffed by volunteers and employees.

Hochanadel said he had not seen the warrant and could not detail the charges.

Two of Hochnadel's associates, James Campbell and Jay Bednar, have also had warrants issued for their arrests.

CannaHelp and Hochanadel have been under investigation by the Riverside County Sherrif's Department, which raided the dispensary last month.

Palm Desert city officials recently revoked the dispensary's business license, but Hochanadel defied the order and has kept the business open.